Tests 71 · 6 tests Owners 51 · 17 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 10 in 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Kumho WinterCraft WP71 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Ice Zero 2 is ahead, 67–61
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 77 · 6 tests Owners 58 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 16 in 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
55
Dry
Ice Zero 2 +1772Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP71 Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 65 81 Reviews found online 41 58 Dry Braking (% of best) 98% 98% -
66
Wet
Ice Zero 2 +773Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP71 Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 76 80 Reviews found online 52 62 Wet Braking (% of best) 88% 86% Wet Handling (% of best) 94% 97% -
70
Snow
Ice Zero 2 +171Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP71 Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 76 Reviews found online 65 64 Snow Braking (% of best) 97% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 97% -
55
Comfort
Ice Zero 2 +863Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP71 Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 72 Reviews found online 40 50 -
73
Noise
WinterCraft WP71 +766Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP71 Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 78 65 -
64
Treadwear
WinterCraft WP71 +658Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP71 Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 69 – Reviews found online 57 52 -
42
Handling
Ice Zero 2 +1456Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP71 Ice Zero 2 Reviews found online 42 56
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho WinterCraft WP71 | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 61 | 67 |
| Dry | 55 | 72 |
| Wet | 66 | 73 |
| Snow | 70 | 71 |
| Comfort | 55 | 63 |
| Noise | 73 | 66 |
| Treadwear | 64 | 58 |
| Handling | 42 | 56 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
61
/ 100
WinterCraft WP71
67
/ 100
Ice Zero 2
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | WinterCraft WP71 | Ice Zero 2 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 98% #2/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 98% #2/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −0.3 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #4/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | +2.0 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 82% #5/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 55% #10/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +27.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 17% #6/8 · 2017 235/55 R17 SUV Winter Tyre Test | 29% #6/8 · 2020 Moottori Winter Studded Tire Test R17 | −11.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 97% #5/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 99% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −2.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #8/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | +0.6 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 91% #19/20 · 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 84% #14/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | +6.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 88% #8/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 86% #4/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +2.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 94% #7/10 · 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tyre Test | 97% #10/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −3.3 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A WinterCraft WP71
Pros
- Strong traction and braking performance in deep snow and slush
- Competitive price point compared to premium winter tire alternatives
- Predictable handling in dry winter conditions
Cons
- Excessive road noise, particularly at low to moderate speeds
- Vague or 'spongy' steering feedback and handling characteristics
- Inconsistent lateral grip and understeer issues on wet roads
Tire B Ice Zero 2
Pros
- Very good traction and performance on snow
- Reasonably quiet for a studded winter tire
- Adequate performance on wet and salty roads
Cons
- Dangerous slipping on ice at low speeds in cold climates
- Strong, intrusive howling noise at speeds above 95 km/h
- Poor overall handling compared to competing studded winter tires like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho WinterCraft WP71 | B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
61
/ 100
Kumho WinterCraft WP71
67
/ 100
Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Winner: Pirelli Ice Zero 2 — better dry, handling and comfort. Pick the Kumho WinterCraft WP71 if noise and treadwear matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 72 vs 55 on dry.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 56 vs 42 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 63 vs 55 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Kumho WinterCraft WP71 scores 73 vs 66 on noise.
Tire A · Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Tire B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.